Wrench



Apr. 10, 1923.

W. H. CLOPTON, JR

WRENCH Filed Sept. 18, 1919 2 sheets-sheet 1 um, m my, f MJ, M 4W@ aw Apr.10,1923. www@ W. H. CLOPTON. JR

WRENCH Filed Sept. 18, 1919 2 sheets-sheet; 2

flttoamcw threaded socket 5.

Patented Apr.. l0, i923.

Uhli@ STATES ttl-56,6733

WILLIAM I-I. CLOPTON, JR., OF CAMP MEADE, MARYLAND.

WRENCH.

Application led September 1S, 1919. Serial No. 324,500.

'T0 all whom t may concern Be it known that I, VILLIAM H. CLorToN, Jr., an oflicer of the United States Army, and a citizen of the United States, residing temporarily at Camp Meade, in the county of Anne Arundel and State of Maryland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Wrenches, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in wrenches and has for its principal object to provide a structure which will permit of slight separation of the jaws while adjusting the tool from one operative position to another, without being disengaged from the member to which it is applied.

In the accompanying drawings;-

Figure 1 is an elevation of a wrench constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a view partlv in section showing the jaws in a different relation from that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views on the lines 5 5 and 6-6 of Fig. 1, respectively.

Referring to the drawings, the improved tool comprises a body or handle portion including a U-shaped frame l, to opposite sides of which are secured plates 2. A relatively fixed jaw 3 is formed at the outer end of a shank or stem 4 that extends'between the limbs of the U-shaped body 1 and is provided at its inner end with an interiorly An adjusting screw 6, fitted to the body 1, and provided at one end with a knurled head or enlarged portion 7, cooperates with the thread in. the socket 5 to adjust the shank or stem 4 and fixed jaw 3 relative to the body or handle, and thus adapt the tool for engaging articles of diiferent sizes,

A. lever, shown as comprising side meinbers 8 and a connecting section 9, is pivotally connected with one of the members of the Ll-shaped frame of the body as at 1.0. The side members 8 of this lever cross opposite faces of the frame of the handle and the shank or stem. 4, and each of them is provided with a. curved portion 11 that serves as a seat or bearing for the relatively movable jaw 12 of the implement. This movable jaw has aslot through which the Shank or stem 4 of the .fixed jaw extends freely and, therefore, when the lever is rocked about its pivot away from the handle, said movable jaw is free to move slightly relative to the fixed jaw, or from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that represented in Fig. 3. By this arrangement, it will be seen that after the jaws have been properly adjusted to enga-ge opposite flat surfaces of a nut 13, for example, it is possible, by positioningthe lever as shown in Fig. 3, to enable the jaws to pass the wider portions of the nut, separating adjacent flat surfaces. That is, the wrench may be manipulated in a ratchet-like manner from a position engaging one pair or set of diametrically opposite flat surfaces to a position engaging another set or pair of such surfaces without being disengaged from the nut.

A leaf spring 14 is arranged within the hollow lever, said spring being permanently attached to the frame 1 of the handle or body of the tool and having its free end bearing against the rear wall 9 of the lever. Said spring acts to normally retain the lever in the position shown in Fig. 3, but when it is grasped by the hand, it will be moved into the position shown in Fig. 1, when the two jaws will be' properly spaced to grasp the faces of the nut to be turned. To permit of the movement of the jaw 12'relative to the fixed jaw and shank or stem 4 hereinbefore referred to, a portion of the frame 1 is cut away, as at 15. The lever is also preferably provided with a projecting shoulder 16 which will cooperate with the movable jaw to positively move it relative to the fixed jaw in the manner and for the purpose referred to, and thus insure the desired opening of the jaws.

It will be seen that all of the parts of the tool may be made of metal; that the spring for moving the lever in one direction is entirely covered and protected 'eherebv and that an economical number of parts not likely to be readily disarranged or breken is rovided.

aving thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A wrench comprising a handle having therein a socket that opens through one en d, a relatively fixed jaw having a shank or stem extending into said socket and adjustable longitudinally therein, a lever having spa-ced side members embracing the handle and pivotally connected thereto in rear of the stem of the fixed jaw, adj acentrthe outer end of the socket in the handle, the side between the handle and lever from the fixed members of the lever extending beyond the jemand a springarranged between the han- 10 front edge of Said stem and provided in dle and lever and acting to turn the latter to their edges with jaw receiving seats, a movcarry the movable jaw away from the fixed 5 able jaw supported in said seats and em jew.

bracing the stem of the fixed jaw, the mov- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set able jaw being situated entirely in pla-nes on my hand.

the opposite side of the plane of the pivot H. CLOPTON, JR- 

